Beautiful India

WORK IN PROGRESS: Public Works Minister Durai Murugan and Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin inspect the Kandaleru Poondi canal repair work on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Upgradation work on the Kandaleru-Poondi canal bed, over 25 km from the inter-state border at Uthukottai, to facilitate free flow of Krishna water will be completed by July 30, Public Works Minister Durai Murugan said on Tuesday.

He was talking to mediapersons after inspecting the repair work taken up by Sri Satya Sai Trust on the damaged part of the canal in Othappai, 8 km from the Poondi reservoir, and the entry point at Uthukottai. The work, initiated on May 14 to arrest water seepage, is in progress along the canal towards the Poondi reservoir. Larsen and Toubro was at present on the job in 8 km of the damaged stretch. A concrete retention wall would be constructed to prevent sand caving during monsoon. Stone pitching on the slope above the canal would be provided. Mr. Durai Murugan said the Trust agreed to take up similar work on the damaged portions of the 21 km feeder canal that carried water from Poondi to Red Hills reservoir and the 25-kilometre link canal from Poondi to the Chembarambakkam reservoir.

On completion of the works, water realisation would be augmented by about 20 per cent, he said. The Trust also agreed to take up deepening and desilting of lakes at Retteri and Porur soon, he said.

Mr. Stalin said the desalination plant near Minjur would be completed by next June.